Have you heard about this thing called a car? It's completely amazing, and I can't wait to tell you all about it. So imagine a big metal box with a bunch of windows. Now put what I just said on top of four wheels that roll. Now imagine that you can climb inside the box and there's places to sit and look out the windows. (Inside there's also another wheel. It's different from the outside wheels, but I think they might somehow be connected.) Anyway, I'm not really sure how this car thing works, but somehow it moves, and you can use it to go just about anywhere. For the most part, you have to stay on these things called roads, but that doesn't end up being much of a limitation. I mean, some of these roads? They go across water. But I haven't told you the best of all best parts. Other people have cars. It's true. And they use them all the time (even at night!). In fact, right now, as we speak, people all over the world are just out there, in their cars, seeing new places and meeting new people and . . . .
Substitute internet stuff for the car stuff and this is how I've been sounding to people for the past two days. I know: it's genuinely embarrassing. But I can't stop. Even when people are telling me that I should be embarrassed. Even when people are saying, "Yes, Dennis. The internet is amazing. It's 2008. We know."
I don't know why it's taken me so long to absorb this message. I'm hardly a Luddite. I've used Amazon to sell used CDs to guys who live on Army bases in Canada. I've written stories about machinima. When I balance my checkbook, I use Quicken; I don't tie knots in yarn. But for some reason it took this silly little YouTube video for me to truly understand. Like I think I get it now. Technology isn't a tool; it's a religion, right? Is that what we're doing here?
Like I said: embarrassing. But also a lot of fun. And so I'd like to offer up a big thanks to the internet for the eye-opener. And a bigger thanks to everyone who's taken the time to comment and write me nice notes. It's been a real treat, and I can see how people can really get into this whole technology. I guess I only have one question:
Is there a downside?
15 comments:
i hated the internet until we upgraded to high speed cable. now instead of driving around like a lost grandma, i am all nascar-y.
best part? no helmet of fire suit required....
your video was the funniest thing i have seen all day.
then again,i live in oklahoma, so i'm not sure that's much of a compliment.
then again, have you seen the people who live in oklahoma? maybe it is.
i'm also a soon-to-be-really-published-no-really-by-a -harper-collins-imprint.
and i actually got it published by going about it backwards.
i was blogging in uetro, but it was about 3 years ago that people actually started reading and community formed. and my community happens to be people who live in the world of "the american church" (said in loud, booming voice).
and so i learned that a lot of us churchy working people were burning out and going crazy. so i decided to make a website about it.
and then i had these surveys.
and over 1300 people took them to tell me how much they were burning out and going crazy. in just two days.
and then another couple thousand people joined a facebook group for it. (at this point i would like to say i am glad i have a face).
and then a lot of other people started blogging about it.
so some publishers were impressed. and i guess they liked the way i wrote or something.
and they said they'd publish it.
and so i've been making promo videos and interviews and a bunch of stuff i had no idea goes into making a book. like picking artwork.
so, all this to say, yes. welcome to the interwebs! the downside? the paparazzi won't leave me alone.
or, maybe not.
Loved the video, Dennis! Welcome to the Internet. :-) Online promotion can really make the difference for authors these days. I've been a writer for a long time, and a published author for the past few years and have helped authors create income from their books. And leveraging the Internet is key to that, so you're on the right track...
I just 'selected all' and sent out a mass email of this video. Hysterical! I don't believe your new to the internet. This made my Friday.
Downside: Every single crazy ex-girlfriend you've ever had can now easily contact you.
Internet = magic. Here's why:
I follow Hodgman on Twitter, he updated today and I browsed his profile, saw he had a blog, went to his blog, he had your video up, I followed that to You Tube, where I saw the link to your site, and here I am.
The downside? I don't know. Is getting hit by the internet the same as getting hit by a car?
Love the video. The internet is great when it gets you what you want...like a car that gets you where you want to go. Less fun when carjacked.
Hi Dennis,
I've embeded your video on our writing blog, The Writerly Pause. It's wonderful! I look forward to reading more of your work, and also this blog!
I guess you could say I've played around a lot with blogging. At last count --at least 11 that I participate in or have exclusively as my own. I have two that are topic-specific archives for stuff from my main blog (Easy-Writer), as well as one with pet photos (weird), poetry (unfinished, but it has my name as a domain), and the myspace page (which was done to get in touch with someone who was only on MySpace). I also have a profile on HauteNet, which is for all my fashion business, and there are a few attempts at podcasting over on podbean --my friends in Scotland enouraged me to do this. I'm also big on creating remixes on Photobucket. As for free accounts... absolutely and why should any of us pay for them?
Oh, it's too much. But believe it or not, it does make sense.
Dennis - your video is absolutely HILARIOUS! Fantastic job. I think a big downside is the time. It takes a lot of time to build community by finding/adopting new technology/social sites, putting up pages, updating them, adding new content regularly, responding to people, etc. But, it's worth it - and so exciting! I wish you continued success in your writing career. Congratulations on your new book!
I had a book published ten years ago. A bestselling author offered to post a review of it on Amazon and I asked, "What's that?"
Ah, the good old days.
Now, I have a book coming out from Random House in two weeks. I've spent more time doing internet promotion than I did writing the thing - or even living it (it's a humorous travel memoir about a year-long bus trip).
Since I'm a psychiatrist, I get the Oprah question, but also the "So, have you been analyzing me this whole time?" question. Now, I'll just answer the former by sending your video. As to the latter, I'll stick with my usual, "Why? Do you think if I were a proctologist I'd want to look up your butt?"
Loved the video!
Welcome to the internet. Downside? There's still only 24 hours in a day and so much internet to explore. I think my brain is going to explode try to take it all in.
Pace yourself. Go for a drive once in a while, in a real car. ;)
Would Hemingway be Hemingway if he would have had a laptop?
I saw your group on NING. Talked to my IN THE KNOW 19 y/o friend about it. SHE said..."NING? Never heard of it. It's gay." (not gay like gay, gay like goofy)
UH, yeah. So at Borders the next day, who was on the cover of FAST COMPANY magazine? THE CEO OF NING.COM. They are the 'next' big thing.
So yeah, Dennis. I think you may be ready for Internet NASCAR.
... and now ProBlogger's Darren Rowse has mentioned your video on twitter which is how I found out about it. So after I also jump in and tell you that I, too, found it very entertaining and wish you luck with this newfound addiction of ours, I'm going to email a link to my writer friend who's gearing up to promote her next book. (Then I'll read your reviews on Amazon, of course.) :)
Good luck with the book sales! And thanks for the laugh...
Saw your video on Boxing the Octopus
http://boxingoctopus.blogspot.com/2008/05/so-funny-it-hurts.html
and it kills me afresh every time I look at it. How hideously true. And how hideous. And how! Between novels, I ghostwrite celebrity memoirs (shut up) and I'm seeing the two worlds -- literary endeavor and industrial self-promotion -- getting closer and closer. I fear the effect is going to be like when they cross the streams in Ghostbusters.
Someone asked here if Hemingway would have been Hemingway had he had a laptop. I think the answer is yes, but he would have killed himself a lot sooner.
The only downside I see is that it's very easy for these internet venues to get out of control and eat up all your time and your life, leaving nothing for writing. Most writers have a day job and a family, and time to write is precious. I want to spend no more of it than absolutely necessary managing a kind of "small business opportunity" promoting my work. Book publicity agents love it when authors do this, partly because the author is doing some of the publicity agent's work without being paid for it. Just some thoughts.
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